In 2002 he left on his second world attempt, this time with four friends aboard the 17-metre timber ketch, Kijana. The boat hit a reef about 30 nautical miles north of Cooktown in north Queensland and started taking on water.

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The waves kept pushing the boat, still under full sail, further onto the reef and it was only a stroke of luck that they were able to get off the reef and limp to safety.

Another example of the unforseen is the case of the 12.8 metre Blessed Be.

The yacht had travelled safely from Tahiti to Queensland via Fiji and New Caledonia in 2008. When it reached the Sunshine Coast with two experienced Sydney yachtsmen aboard, it hit gale force winds. Despite an extensive search, the boat and the men were never seen again.

Ms Watson, 16 of Buderim on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is well on track to break Martin’s record in her 10.4 metre sloop, Ella’s Pink Lady, before she turns 17 on May 18.

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Mr Martin of Melbourne who is a friend of his competitor and her family said last week he had taken a different route to Ms Watson and his half-way point was at the Azore Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Ms Watson’s mother Julie said last week her daughter was due to pass her half-way mark, the South Georgia Islands, in the next few days.

"It took me five months to get to the Azores but Jessica’s going to pass her half-way mark in about three months so she’s travelling much faster than I was," he said.

"Rounding Cape Horn is a major mental milestone; it says you have every chance of making the trip and also sends a great message to your doubters.’’

But he said her challenges were ‘‘far from over’’ still needing to conquer the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

"Lots of things can happen wherever you are at sea. Equipment can fail, you can hurt yourself or hit something and the weather is always the great unknown.

"But she’s had a great first half and she'll know her boat really well by now and be in a routine so when bad weather hits, she’ll be as prepared as she can be.’’

He said he was having lunch with Mrs Watson in Melbourne recently when her daughter rang from the boat’s satellite phone.

"It was wonderful to be able to speak with her and tell her how great she was doing," he said.

He has co-directed and co-produced an award-winning "warts and all" documentary about the ill-fated Kijana journey. The program, 5 Lost at Sea, will screen on ABC 1 on Thursday, February 11 at 9.25 pm.